TRAVEL

Traveling Lessons: When we're worried.

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

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It started right away. We hadn't even left Nashville.

"Did you notice that we land in Chicago at 5:30 and our flight to London leaves at 6?" I ask casually.

"Hm," Patrick responds, rubbing his chin. "I guess I didn't."

"If we're delayed at all we may not be able to make our flight."

"It's okay. We'll be fine."

"You're right," I lie.

We're not fine. The flight is delayed. We land in Chicago ten minutes before our flight takes off. We run fast down the airport corridors, zigging and zagging through unsuspecting passengers. We're sweating. And when we arrive at the gate we yell, "WAIT!"

"I can't believe we made it," I laugh as we take our seat for the 7-hour flight. I feel relieved. Thankful. In control.

We made it, I exclaim internally, wiping sweat from my brow. We are the last ones on the plane.

And then it started again.

Westminster Abbey

"I'm concerned we won't make it to the London Eye," Patrick says checking his watch. "And if the taxi doesn't take cash, then we'll definitely miss it." Patrick eyes the tables in the restaurant. We just need two seats. No one has moved since we entered over an hour ago. We're expected on the other side of town in forty-five minutes.

"We should just go," I say, eyeing a plate of steaming mussels with envy. There's an undertone of blame in my voice. And suddenly, I realize it's a script we've been repeating over and over again since this whole journey began. 

When did we become so worried all the time?

As Patrick and I have started this three-week journey, the first lesson we realized is just how out of control traveling makes us feel. We are incredibly risk-averse* people. We like to manage our circumstances. We want to be on time. We don't want to waste money. We don't want to miss out. We can't imagine losing a reservation or getting kicked out of a cab or heaven forbid looking stupid in a foreign country. I want to look cool, feel cool, and be collected at all times. In fact, I spend most of my energy at home every day making sure that's the case. I've gotten so good at manipulating people and circumstances and money and time that I don't even realize that I'm doing it anymore.

One step in a foreign country, and there it is, rearing its ugly head. Worry.

Why do we want control? Control is a fleeting, misplaced sense of security.

Gibsons in Amsterdam

Today and tomorrow we are touring Amsterdam. The city is surrounded by canals in rings, and the canals are lined by tall, intricate buildings with sculptures, brown stone, and charm. The city was built centuries ago on three layers of sand. Some of the houses teeter to the side in a semi-permanent lean. Locals talk of global warming and rising waters.

We meander the cobblestone streets, over canals, dodging bicycles, and let the cool breeze brush our faces. And I notice a young mother pedal by with a one-year-old son saddled in the front and a toddler daughter seated on the back. None of the three family members are wearing helmets. She wobbles for a moment around a tourist, and the children wobble with her, unfazed that their fragile skulls could hit the pavement, unprotected.

Patrick and I are risk-averse. I think a lot of other Americans are too. We wear helmets. We want to know that we can avert every kind of disaster by willpower, money, preparation, or some combination of the three.

But we can't have that kind of control. It's not ours to have.

 

 

*A former version of this post said we were "risk-adverse". And while adverse and averse are words that sound similar, they have completely different meanings. Many thanks to the friend who helped me find the error. :)

Come with us.

If I could have a euro for every time someone said, "Will you pack me in your bag and take me with you?" I'd have about fifteen euros ($20.32).

Sadly, we can't pack you up and take you with us. But through the power of the internet, we can share parts our journey right here!

I haven't taken three weeks off of anything since I was 18 years old. Back then, I went to China. I overpacked, over-worried, and underprepared for the ways the travel would change me. I sent home introspective e-mails about what I was learning, and in the end, I realized the more I know, the more I know I don't know.

I hope I will rediscover that humility on this trip.  So—are you coming along?

The Itinerary:

  • London — October 3 - 6
  • Amsterdam — October 6 - 8
  • Paris — October 8 - 11
  • Lyon — October 11 - 13
  • Chamonix — October 13 - 15
  • Lake Como — October 15 - 17
  • Cinque Terre — October 17 - 20
  • Florence — October 20 - 23
  • Rome — October 23 - 25

Since Patrick and I are both pretty "type A"  we also prepared a long document of all of our travel ideas. Check out EUROPE 2013, if you're curious.

The Packing:

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Patrick and I have tried to pack light for this trip. Thanks to some close friends—I whittled down my needs to the basics: Jeans, a nice pair of black slacks, one (or two) dresses, comfortable shoes, socks, and a few shirts. I threw in an old thin jacket and rain shell for good measure. My Osprey Convertible pack and Patrick's borrowed Osprey Meridian bag can convert to backpacks or roll like suitcases, and they can be carried on a plane. Brilliant!

And also: Some vitamins, medicine, and sleeping pills for the plane.

What I'm not bringing: Laptops. Work. Writing. 

The Reading:

IMG_1633Perhaps more important to me than what I'll wear while we're gone is what I'll read. After culling through a long list of suggested reading, I chose three (ish) books.

1) The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank. Patrick and I hope to go to the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. Somehow, I've never read her diary. I know that reading it will give me a better understanding of what she endured in that place.

2) A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway. Again, despite how much I love writing and reading—Hemingway hasn't made it to the top of my list in a long time. But this book, about his early twenties living in Paris, just makes sense for this trip. I've already read the first three paragraphs and I want to devour the whole thing.

3) Rick Steve's Paris, Italy, and TV episodes. Okay, so we have to take some travel books. PLUS if you go to iTunes, you can purchase $1.99 episodes of Rick Steve's television show. They are 30 minute segments, and give you a great overview of a place. I know it's not "reading," but I'm looking forward to watching an episode while we train to the next location.

The Gifts:

One of the great things about our trip is that we are going to visit some old friends—and one of them is very old indeed! It was important to me to bring each of our friends that is giving us a meal and a place to stay something special from the states.

Thanks to Pangea in Hillsboro Village, I think I came up with just the right gifts. (More on this later!)

The rest:

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Cleaning the house for our super awesome house-sitters, clearing out the refrigerator so things don't go bad, finishing laundry, and getting one final hair trim before we leave... TOMORROW.

I can't believe it's here! Please check back here as we travel. We'll try to update a few times a week!

Packing Light Part II: The Best Carry-On Luggage

So here's the deal. I've already lamented the fact that I won't be able to stuff our dog, Cooper in the carry-ons we're taking to Europe. But if we're being honest, my biggest concern wasn't what to pack, but what to pack in. The correct luggage can make or break a trip (especially when you're covering 4 countries in 3 weeks). The last thing I want to do is force Patrick to lug my bag around because it's too heavy or too uncomfortable (which I did on our trip to New York).  After reading a TON of reviews and accepting suggestions from our friends, we pulled together three different options to check out.

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Osprey Convertible Series +  Eagle Creek Switchback + Osprey Meridian Series

All three are carry-on size. All three have wheels and a backpack option. All three come with an attached day-pack and room for a laptop. So how do you choose?! For the greater good of all travelers, I inspected all three, packed all three, carried all three, then made my decision.

Here are the results:

OSPREY: MERIDIAN SERIES

Osprey Meridian Series Review
Osprey Meridian Series Review

What you're getting: A 22-in, 60L carry-on sized pack with durable material, a rectangular retractable handle (to use the rollers), an adjustable backpack hip belt (that pops out of the back), and a removable day pack. Plenty of zippered compartments. In red, green, or metal gray.)

What you're spending: About $350. (Available at REI, ebags, etc.)

Meridian Review
Meridian Review
Meridian Osprey Review
Meridian Osprey Review
Osprey Review
Osprey Review
Osprey Review
Osprey Review

Day Pack, after un-zipped from the front

What you will love:If you're looking for the perfect marriage between a suitcase and a backpack, this is it—the Meridian is sturdy, but not too bulky. The side panels of the bag are strong, so they stand up when you're packing, like in a suitcase. The top-carrying handle is cushioned too, making it easy to carry up stairs if you're not wearing the backpack. Also, you'll love the fact that the hip-belt is incredibly soft and cushiony.

What you will hate: There's not a great place in the day pack to keep important documents (read: passport). Also, the bag is a little on the heavy side (7 pounds).

Overall: This bag offers the most volume for the least amount of bulk. And it doesn't look as "techy" as lots of other convertible packs.

EAGLE CREEK: SWITCHBACK 26

Eagle creek switchback review
Eagle creek switchback review

What you're getting: A 25-inch, 58L convertible pack with an easy-to latch back-pack component, durable material, a rectangular extendable bar, plenty of hidden zippers for conscientious travelers, and a large attached day pack.

What you'respending:  About $375, unless you can snag a deal

Eagle Creek
Eagle Creek

Use this zipper to access the interior of the suitcase, on the go. 

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Hidden zipper pouch on day-pack

What you will love: When you unzip the carrying backpack component, it attaches using velcro which is incredibly easy. Also, the day-pack includes a hidden zipper for important documents and money that can't get stolen. And don't forget, there's an zipper that lets you access the interior of the suitcase without having to open the entire thing—great when you're on the train and need a pair of socks, but don't want to unpack in front of everyone.

What you will hate: My sweet friend Emily Fenske offered to let me check out her bag (pictured here), and she said that on their last trip, if she wore the whole thing, she felt like a turtle. Boo! Unfortunately, this bag loses when it comes to size. It weighs 8 pounds! Also, with the day pack attached, it's hard to open the main compartment of the bag. Emily said she usually wore the day-pack on her chest while wearing the larger pack on her back, so it wouldn't feel too bulky.

Overall: The Eagle Creek Switchback has the most thoughtful storage (i.e., access to the interior and hidden compartments), but the bulk detracts greatly. It was the largest of the three in terms of size—weighing in at a hefty 8 pounds.

OSPREY: OZONE CONVERTIBLE SERIES

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What you're getting: Osprey's newest 22-inch, 50L bag, with an extendable T-bar handle for rolling, a back-back component, as well as a detachable small day-pack that includes space for a laptop. Durable but lightweight materials make this bag the lightest by far—just 5.5 pounds.

What you're spending: About $300

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Osprey Convertible Series Review
Osprey Convertible Series Review

Day pack is easily detached and re-attached with zipper

Unzipped Osprey Backpack
Unzipped Osprey Backpack

After you unzip the backpack component, all you have to do is snap 4 hooks—two on top, and two on the bottom. 

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What you will love: This bag is sleek and sexy. It just looks good on your back, and even though it has wheels, it still feels like a back pack. By far the thinnest of the three bags, the Convertible Series can scrunch down to be super skinny. You'll also love the fact that of all three, the day pack is the easiest to attach and detach. This pack is also the lightest (5.5 pounds!), and the extendable bar is a T rather than a rectangle. I

What you will hate: This bag offers about 10 L less volume as the other two. And unlike the Eagle Creek, it doesn't have a great hidden compartment for passports. The hip-belt is a little on the thin side, but it's still very comfortable.

Overall: This bag is the lightest and thinnest—and the least expensive! Plus, the blue color is perfect for me or Patrick, and it actually feels like a back pack, not a suitcase.

THE FINAL DECISION

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After lots of himming and hawing... I made my final decision. Actually it wasn't all that hard. All along, the blue Osprey Convertible Series was the clear favorite. It's thin, it's light, and it's the least expensive! I know the blue color will be great for Patrick and me, and we'll use it for many, many trips to come.

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In fact, I already used it for one trip, and I was stopped three times at the airport by folks wondering what kind of bag I was carrying. Not too shabby!

Now all that's left is the packing!

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Special thanks to my friends at Outdoor Sports Marketing for providing two Osprey bags for this product review, and to Emily Fenske for offering her Eagle Creek bag for review. All opinions are my own and honest. I promise! 

Europe: Three Week Itinerary

Europe Print As it turns out, Europe is a pretty big place.  After much deliberation, we've decided where we're going on our trip*. Here are the places that made the final cut.  We leave October 2nd**.

I still can't believe it's happening.

LONDON

AMSTERDAM

PARIS

LYON

CHAMONIX

LAKE COMO

CINQUE TERRE

FLORENCE

ROME

*Putting together this post made me feel like an utter brat. But I seriously can't wait.

**ANY and ALL suggestions for ANY and ALL of these places are welcome and appreciated!!

Three Weeks in One Carry-on

When Patrick first suggested it, I almost laughed. Carry-on luggage only? For a three week trip? He had to be kidding.

via Tec Petaja
via Tec Petaja

He wasn't.

I get it. Packing light has many benefits. For one, we'll be moving fast—the less we pack, the less we have to lug around. Second, the less we take, the less cluttered our small little hostel and Airbnb rooms rooms will feel. And let's be honest, they're already going to be pretty small! And ultimately, there's not really a way to pack 21 pairs of underwear and 21 outfits. That's what I call unnecessary baggage.

So with that in mind, I sought to figure out what I already owned that would make an easy wash-as-you-go  wardrobe.  Here's the gist:

Three Weeks in One Bag
Three Weeks in One Bag

Footwear. At first, I wanted to just take two pairs of shoes. But what the heck. I am a girl. I knew I wanted to take a pair of boots—they're comfortable, warm, and versatile—and also because the ones I have are about to die after a long and fruitful life of service. (And won't it be nice to take them, and replace them in Europe?) Then, a simple pair of flats will work for museums, nice dinners, and walking short distances. (I like these from J.Crew factory.) And finally. I had to do it. One pair of tourist tennies. And I will wear them with a smile on my face! (Maybe.)

Tops. So in the picture above, there are four tops. Chambray is great, because I wear it everyday anyway. A SmartWool t-shirt is light, warm, and easily washed by hand. I can wear it day after day too, because the merino wool has anti-microbial fibers that fight stink! Yes! A long-sleeved black tee won't show sweat (not that I do that), and it's easy to layer. (I might borrow something like this from my next door neighbor.) And finally, the fourth option could be something like this J.Crew linen baseball T. I've also been thinking about slipping in a white collared shirt—maybe something that won't wrinkle too easily, like this Columbia version.

Bottoms. Easy. One pair of Jeans. One pair of good-quality leggings (they are fully opaque, I promise!). One pair of shorts. Keep it simple with black—because then everything matches.

Layers. I'm hoping to take a cashmere sweater to layer on top of everything. Then, I'm going to borrow my sweet friend Jaime's Patagonia vest. Sure, it's a little "techie," but it will be warm and add some variety. Annnnd... don't forget a great scarf. I might take two. And by might, I mean will.

Dress. I found this Columbia dress at REI, and couldn't help myself. It will be perfect for a few fancy dinners, and can be layered with just about everything in the bag. Score.

Intimates. I'm really looking forward to trying out SmartWool's new intimate line (more on that soon!)—but ultimately, I think 3-4 pairs will do just fine.

So take all this, put it together... and what do you get? Well.. I went a little crazy on Polyvore. Granted, I don't own these exact pieces, but the idea is there... and I like it!

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Pack for Three Weeks in One Bag
Pack for Three Weeks in One Bag

Not bad, eh? I know this is only 11 days... but I thought you might get sick of the mixing and matching. You get the gist.

What are your travel tips? Anything you can't leave home without?